Cuba’s leaders like decisive and overwhelming victories, which is what they have proclaimed to the world for five decades. While it’s true that they’ve never been able to overcome economic inefficiencies, they did achieve crushing military victories several times, from the Bay of Pigs to Cuito Cuanavale (in Angola).

Accustomed as they are to taking part in such triumphs, in late August the Ministry of Public Health proclaimed that they had won their war against cholera after suffering a final toll of 417 people infected and three dead.

This was a big mistake, because vibrio cholerae isn’t so easily overcome – even less so when relying on quickly organized campaigns. Cholera is a disease that has a low mortality rate because the cure is relatively simple, nevertheless it’s exceedingly difficult to eradicate.

Cuba’s leaders like decisive and overwhelming victories, which is what they have proclaimed to the world for five decades. While it’s true that they’ve never been able to overcome economic inefficiencies, they did achieve crushing military victories several times, from the Bay of Pigs to Cuito Cuanavale (in Angola).

Accustomed as they are to taking part in such triumphs, in late August the Ministry of Public Health proclaimed that they had won their war against cholera after suffering a final toll of 417 people infected and three dead.

This was a big mistake, because vibrio cholerae isn’t so easily overcome – even less so when relying on quickly organized campaigns. Cholera is a disease that has a low mortality rate because the cure is relatively simple, nevertheless it’s exceedingly difficult to eradicate.